Võru State Upper Secondary School
Gross area: 3219 m2
Cost of construction: 4 000 000 €
Nominee for ‘Construction Project of the Year 2014/2015’
‘Well-restored monument’ recognition of the National Heritage Board
‘Contribution of the Year 2015’ of the City of Võru
Adds character to Võru with its eye-catching appearance
“What makes Võru State Upper Secondary School special is the clever way in which the new building has been connected to the existing school building – the oldest building in the city, protected under heritage conservation laws. The elegant glass gallery that links the two buildings opens out into corridors which have begun to be used as recreation spaces between lessons. These have been provided with additional natural light using large glass surfaces in interior doors and windows.
The primary material utilised in the new building is solid concrete so as to produce a structure that will remain standing as long as the protected building to which it is linked. The close-set, rhythmic relief of the concrete façade elements helps bind the panel surfaces together into a single whole. In doing so, the new building remains somewhat modest compared to the protected building it is next to, but at the same time it avoids blank wall spaces which may come across as boring alongside historical pilasters and cornices. The rhythmic nature of the structure also helps to create a connection with the smaller surrounding buildings and their roofs.”
Lever L., architect
“The project solution was put together in construction terms to a very high level of professionalism, needing no changes in the course of the work. Close cooperation between the designer, the architect, the construction specialist and the builder meant that the solution that had been developed worked out perfectly. Any issues that arose during the building process in regard to construction and architecture – in both reconstructing the old building and adding the extension to the new building – were resolved by Esplan both quickly and professionally. The work was completed on time and to a high degree of quality, and with its eye-catching appearance it truly adds to the cityscape of Võru.”
accommodating 160 students”
